Tim Moltzen will remain with Wests Tigers after St George Illawarra decided not to seek registration of the fullback's three-year contract with the club.
After several weeks of discussions between the Dragons and the Tigers, the long-running saga is now over. The NRL, which was investigating through salary cap auditor Ian Schubert, released a statement which stated that Moltzen would remain with Wests Tigers.
“Having acted in good faith there is no doubt the Dragons have sought to avoid a difficult situation by withdrawing their registration of the contract," NRL chief executive David Gallop said. “It is certainly the case that the NRL has the power to make an adjudication where disputes arise. Clearly that is no longer required in the current circumstance.
“The dispute in this case should highlight that contracts are binding legal documents which cannot be entered into lightly by any party.
“It is also needs to be noted that the NRL rules contain a number of procedures which protect clubs and players alike and this is a stark reminder of the importance of following those procedures.”
The Dragons released a statement which stated that "Moltzen's actions and physical fitness do not meet the club's expectations".
“Over the past week I met with Tim Moltzen and Wests Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys to discuss this situation, believing the club should not finalise its position until it had spoken face to face'," Dragons chief executive Peter Doust said.
“This meeting confirmed that Tim Moltzen wanted to take advantage of the changed circumstances, presented by Wests Tigers, and was not going to honour any of his previous commitments. At the same meeting, Tim also revealed that he has been carrying a shoulder problem for most of the 2011 season which he had yet to have addressed, medically.
“He in fact told me that his surgeon had advised that very morning that his shoulder would require six months of rehabilitation.
“The shoulder injury was something that Tim or his manager had not previously disclosed and something that would have influenced the club's decision in July."
Doust said the Dragons would not seek to replace Moltzen externally but there were suggestions that the club might still seek compensation over the affair.